This kept coming across my radar, so I finally read it and am I ever glad I did! What a great story. Someone is killed on the grounds at Pemberly, andThis kept coming across my radar, so I finally read it and am I ever glad I did! What a great story. Someone is killed on the grounds at Pemberly, and Darcy and Elizabeth have to deal with it. Lydia makes an appearance, as does Mr. Bennet, and I very much enjoyed this vision of what their lives are like after the end of Pride & Prejudice. (I also very much enjoyed the references to other Austen characters that popped up). This is a must read for any fans of Austen or of P&P....more

Not quite as wonderful as the first two, but I still very much enjoyed this installment. Our hero, Alexia, is causing quite a scandal at the beginningNot quite as wonderful as the first two, but I still very much enjoyed this installment. Our hero, Alexia, is causing quite a scandal at the beginning of the novel, and leaves London to try and escape ... some problems. Naturally, she winds up with more problems. Problems upon problems, which are eventually solved with a bit of ingenuity, odd friends, and brute force. Fun stuff, as always, full of steampunk elements and werewolves, within a Victorian setting. ...more

This was really great - an excellent prequel to Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore, which I highly recommend if you haven't already read it. That said,This was really great - an excellent prequel to Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore, which I highly recommend if you haven't already read it. That said, it wasn't clear to me that it was a novella, and I was very indignant when it ended so soon! I wanted more, but there was none to be had. The ending makes sense and is at a good point, but the world of these two books is so wonderful that I wanted more. ...more

So first off, if you haven't read the plot synopsis in the Goodreads blurb, read that and then come back here.

Next, I have to acknowledge that this bSo first off, if you haven't read the plot synopsis in the Goodreads blurb, read that and then come back here.

Next, I have to acknowledge that this book is very long - pushing 800 pages in my ebook. In part this is because of the concept that drives the entire thing - there are 12 "core" characters, each of whom embodies the characteristics of a particular astrological sign. This aspect might have been more interesting to me if I could rattle those characteristics off for each sign, but I can't.

Overall I enjoyed this. The mystery at the center of the plot was interesting and I thought the writing was great. To the author's credit, the characters were developed well enough that I didn't get them confused.

That said, I think the conceit made things too complicated. Some of these 12 characters do not actually do that much, and much of their action probably could have been handled differently. If nothing else, maybe some of these characters could perform their actions without the book spending so much time with them.

There's also another framing device on top of the plot - the majority of the story has already taken place and has been re-told to a character new to town, Walter Moody. Once he is up to speed, the rest of the book takes place in real time. Then there's a final section that goes back and fills in more gaps for the reader. I finished this, but I could not recount the "what happened and whodunit" to you in any way that would be complete and make sense - too many characters and coincidences, and too much jumping back and forth in time.

Anyway, as I said, I enjoyed this but if you've got this on your to-read list, be aware of what you're getting into when you pick it up!...more

This is the One Maryland, One Book selection this year. It's the author's memoir of growing up in poverty first in Mexico, and then in the US. Her parThis is the One Maryland, One Book selection this year. It's the author's memoir of growing up in poverty first in Mexico, and then in the US. Her parents repeatedly left her and her siblings behind, and her father beat and abused them once they joined him in the US. The obstacles they faced were immense, and you can really see how all of the odds were stacked against them, and indeed her brother and sister are not as successful as they might have been if their situation had been different. The author managed to struggle through and became a successful novelist. So while the story was compelling, the writing was very plain - in service of the story, I think - and there are some photos sprinkled throughout. ...more

This was a lot of fun - it's the second of a series of five, about Alexia, a woman with no soul, who is married to an earl who is also a werewolf. SetThis was a lot of fun - it's the second of a series of five, about Alexia, a woman with no soul, who is married to an earl who is also a werewolf. Set in 1800s London, it has some wonderful elements of steampunk and some scenes read like a comedy of manners. In this installment, Alexia is investigating a strange disease or weapon that renders all supernatural creatures (ghosts and vampires also figure prominently in this world) mortal while they are in its vicinity. There's a dirigible, a deadly parasol, and some hideous hats. What else do you need!?...more

This was great! It's a combination of a mystery and historical fiction, set in Boston and featuring the theft from the Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumThis was great! It's a combination of a mystery and historical fiction, set in Boston and featuring the theft from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I devoured it and really enjoyed all the mentions of various places around the city. The story revolves around a young painter who's asked to paint a forgery of one of the works stolen from the Gardner, and what happens after she does. She is "a woman with a past," as they say, and her past is slowly brought to light through a handful of flashback chapters interspersed through the book. I'm not entirely sure that was necessary - the book could have opened with that stuff and then flashed forward to the present day - but the timing of when those chapters were placed worked well. As you can imagine, there are lots of detailed description of the process of creating a painting, and how to detect a forgery, which I found interesting. I enjoyed this and recommend it, particularly if you've been to the Gardner....more

CHOMP. This was a delicious snack of a book, and I mean that in the best possible way. It's a cross between a hard-boiled detective/noir sort of novelCHOMP. This was a delicious snack of a book, and I mean that in the best possible way. It's a cross between a hard-boiled detective/noir sort of novel, and a dystopian alternate future. NYC's population has mostly fled in the wake of a dirty bomb, and most of the rest of the population is addicted to an insane VR technology. Our protagonist is a garbageman turned hit man who is tasked with killing a girl...who he doesn't kill. The story unfolds from there. I enjoyed it, and it's a blazingly fast read....more

First off, the plot of this short novel sucked me in and kept me zooming along, to the point where I was reading so fast that I had to back up a few tFirst off, the plot of this short novel sucked me in and kept me zooming along, to the point where I was reading so fast that I had to back up a few times. The characters were interesting, compelling things happened to them, and the story didn't really lose momentum. I suppose you could argue that it could have benefitted from a slow down here and there, but for the most part, the things happening to the characters are the types of situations where you either have to think fast, or are in such a state of mind that you aren't thinking. Anyway, I would say that if the general storyline of this seems interesting, get your hands on this. Just be prepared to accidentally stay up late reading it every night. (Good thing it's short.)...more

This novella was wonderful and I didn't want it to be over - though I thought it ended well. It's a very creepy sort of magical realism - I was prettyThis novella was wonderful and I didn't want it to be over - though I thought it ended well. It's a very creepy sort of magical realism - I was pretty squicked out at one part and there were definitely some excellent points of suspense. To borrow from a friend, it's a childhood tale told from a perspective of adulthood, with all of the knowledge that can bring to bear in the retelling. Truly excellent, if you're at all interested based on the plot synopsis I'd recommend picking it up....more

If you like strong, nerdy female protagonists, this is the novel for you. Alma, our heroine, is a scientist. Specifically, she studies mosses - in theIf you like strong, nerdy female protagonists, this is the novel for you. Alma, our heroine, is a scientist. Specifically, she studies mosses - in the 1800s. The book follows her from birth, but Gilbert made an interesting choice to deviate from that for a bit, that I thought really worked well. For a portion of the beginning of the novel - when Alma is a very small girl - instead of her story, we get the story of her father. This may at first seem like a useless diversion, but seeing the backstory (instead of hearing it through Alma) really gives you a strong sense of who she is, and why she is that way. Anyway, I greatly enjoyed this. I found her to be a very real character - she is both brave and cowardly, and you can see this in the choices she makes in all areas of her life. Highly recommend! ...more

I enjoyed this. Set in Seattle over the course of about a decade (enveloping the 1929 stock market crash), it's the story of Willow and William - a moI enjoyed this. Set in Seattle over the course of about a decade (enveloping the 1929 stock market crash), it's the story of Willow and William - a mother and son. William lives at an orphanage, with the understanding that his mother is dead - until he comes across a picture of an actress who he is convinced is his mother. From there the story takes off, as William finds Willow and learns about her life, and how it came to happen that he's in the orphanage. I don't want to say too much, because I don't want to give away the story. But the book felt realistic to me. Characters make decisions - bad and good - and have bad and good things happen to them. I certainly recommend this if you're interested, and hopefully my book club will have a good discussion about it. ...more

This was a great read! It's set at Longbourn - the home of the Bennets in Pride and Prejudice. While the novel's focus is on a maid, Sarah, the authorThis was a great read! It's set at Longbourn - the home of the Bennets in Pride and Prejudice. While the novel's focus is on a maid, Sarah, the author ties everything very closely to the events in the Austen novel that inspired it. This is a lovely coming of age story in which Sarah falls in love, has her heart broken, and figures out how to do what she needs to do for herself. I liked the characters and particularly enjoyed seeing the figures from P&P through the eyes of the help. Anyone who likes P&P will certainly enjoy this....more

This book picks up and fills in the pieces of the craft beer industry in the US post-Prohibition (but mostly from the 1960s on) - take note, book clubThis book picks up and fills in the pieces of the craft beer industry in the US post-Prohibition (but mostly from the 1960s on) - take note, book clubbers, it's a nice companion to Ambitious Brew. Anyway, this was a good read despite some quibbles. The book is very focused on the people, which made it hard to follow at times - names upon names upon names; I also found the notes annoying, as I felt that many of them could have been easily integrated into the text. That said, this was a really interesting read for the beer lover. Moving through the initial craft beer movement, through the dips and up to today. We see all the breweries you'd expect - Dogfish Head, Boston Beer Company, Anchor and others - and hear more about others you might not know as much about. I can't say I'd recommend this to someone who's not into beer, but I enjoyed it....more

This was quite good. It was a little long, but it didn't drag. I didn't know anything about Robert Louis Stevenson's books or his life (nor am I a parThis was quite good. It was a little long, but it didn't drag. I didn't know anything about Robert Louis Stevenson's books or his life (nor am I a particular fan of his work) but this was still enjoyable for the people. ...more

This was fantastic, though if you don't like ambiguous endings you may be annoyed at the close. The novel follows Ursula, who is repeatedly and immediThis was fantastic, though if you don't like ambiguous endings you may be annoyed at the close. The novel follows Ursula, who is repeatedly and immediately reincarnated as herself, and as a result develops premonitions and deja vu that enable her to take a slightly different path each time. It's fascinating follow the things she does differently, and all the directions her life takes. She's an interesting character and you quickly grow to fear for her or celebrate with her....more

This is nonfiction that is so immersive, you might think it's fiction if you don't know otherwise. The author basically embedded herself for a few yeaThis is nonfiction that is so immersive, you might think it's fiction if you don't know otherwise. The author basically embedded herself for a few years in a Mumbai slum, and got to know some of the people there. We see their stories as they happen - the author isn't present at all in the narrative, which is something I love in nonfiction. I think the amount of time she spent with the people in the book really shines through, and it was a fascinating and depressing look at lives we don't usually see or hear much about....more

Was reading the ebook 7/21-7/24, but had to put it on hold to read a book for one of my book clubs, and it expired in the meantime. Will come back toWas reading the ebook 7/21-7/24, but had to put it on hold to read a book for one of my book clubs, and it expired in the meantime. Will come back to the print sometime, as I was enjoying it but is not a good pick to read as an ebook, due to the way the page layout was replicated into the epub. I couldn't even increase the font size. Super annoying....more

This book tells the story of Highclere Castle and its inhabitants during the time period that Downton Abbey (which is shot there) is set. I found theThis book tells the story of Highclere Castle and its inhabitants during the time period that Downton Abbey (which is shot there) is set. I found the first portion of the book very difficult to get into, as it's mostly a recitation of names and places and society lady things. However, once we get into the Great War, it becomes much more interesting. Just as in the show, the family turned the castle into a hospital, and there are some other interesting echoes of things that happen in the show. Overall I found this interesting, but I fear that some fans of the show will pick it up and be disappointed, as it is really the story of the family, and doesn't discuss any connections with the show at all....more

As it turned out, I had already read at least three of these stories, as Saunders is often published in The New Yorker. I don't want to say that theseAs it turned out, I had already read at least three of these stories, as Saunders is often published in The New Yorker. I don't want to say that these are dark, but they do not tend to feature happy people - in particular there was one story with a main character who was so petty and delusional that I had to stop reading it. This is not to say that the characters have nothing good going for them - overall they are pretty realistic, flawed people, which always makes for interesting reading. ...more

It took me a while to get into this, but I did enjoy it. various characters in the novel take turns narrating, but it's done in a way that's easy to fIt took me a while to get into this, but I did enjoy it. various characters in the novel take turns narrating, but it's done in a way that's easy to follow and makes sense for the progression of the plot. This also allows the author to slowly reveal that the characters are more connected than it may seem on the surface.

There were some parts that were hard to read (action in the novel takes place during the first and second Chechen wars, so there are a few rather gruesome torture passages) but the novel ends on an uplifting note that doesn't seem forced. ...more